Folding crate.



M. A. GRIFFIN.

FOLDING CRATE'. .APPLIUATION Hmm 00T. 9,19'09.

992,189. Patnted'May 16, 19171.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

img? f' Y WITNESSES: INVENTOR SMNQWWQN ak/Mu# l ATTORNEYS.

M. A. GRIFFIN.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLIoA'rIoN HLBDooT. 9,1909.

992,189. Patented May 16, 191.1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNEssEs: |NVENT0R MH. www Haw/QM ATTORNEYS.

MAURICE A. GRIFFIN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FOLDING CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1911.

Application filed October 9, 1909. Serial No. 521,837.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAURICE A. GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and use* ful Improvement in Folding Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a folding or knock-down crate which can be unfolded for shipping or storing different articles and folded so as to reduce its bulk when storing the crate or returning the same to the place from which the goods were shipped.

It is the object of this invention to produce a crate of this character which is comparatively simple in construction, which can be readily set up for use or knocked do-wn for storage or transportation and which is very strong and rigid when set up, so that the goods contained in the same are protected and can be shipped safely.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of 2 sheets: Figure l is a perspective view of my improved folding crate. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the different parts of the crate spread out fiat. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the crate set up for use. Fig. 4 is a Vertical transverse section of the same. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the crate knocked down for storage or transportation.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization my improved crate comprises a bottom A, a top B, a rear wall C, a front wall D and two side walls E, E.

In its preferred form the bottom consists of a marginal rectangular frame constructed of a wire rod or bar a, and a sheet metal panel or floor a1 having its edges connected with said frame by bending said edges around the bars of the frame. This floor is provided with notches f, f at its front edge at opposite ends thereof so as to expose the end portions of the front bar of the bottom frame and at its rear edge the floor is pro vided at opposite ends and also centrally thereof with notches g, g so as to expose the corresponding portionsv of the rear bar of the bottom frame.

b1 of coarsely woven wire affixed to said frame.

The rear wall of the crate consists of upper and lower sections c, c1 which are pivotally connected with each other and with the rear edges of the top and bottom respectively of the crate, so that these sections may swing vertically with reference to each other and the top and bottom for folding and unfolding the crate. In the preferred construction of the rear wall each of its sections comprises a longitudinal strip of sheet metal L extending the length of the crate and a plurality of upright strips of sheet metal h1, preferably three in number, secured respectively to the ends and the central part of the longitudinal strip by means of rivets, as shown, or by any other suitable means. The lower edge of the upper section and the upper edge of the lower section of the rear wall are pivotally connected by means of a longitudinal pintle or pivot rod J extend* ing horizontally through eyes y' formed on the opposing ends of the vertical strips of the upper and lower sections of the rear wall. The lower edge of the lower section of the rear wall is preferably connected with the rear edge of the bottom of the crate by bending the lower ends of the vertical strips of this section around the rear bar of the bottom frame within theend and central notches g of the floor. The upper section of the rear wall is preferably pivotally connected with the rear edge of the top of the crate by bending the upper ends of the vertical strips of this section around the end and central parts of the rear bar of the top frame.

The front wall of the crate preferably comprises a marginal frame section of substantially U-form having an upper horizontal bar c extending lengthwise of the upper edge of this wall, two vertical side bars k1, 701 which are formed integrally at their upper ends with opposite ends of the upper bar while their lower ends are provided with inwardly bent portions Z and terminate in eyes Zl which embrace the front bar of the bottom frame within the notches f of the floor so as to form a pivotal connection between the front wall and the bottom. Above the lower bent portions Z of the side bars of the front wall the same are connected by a horizontal rod or bar m which forms the lower member of the frame for this wall. work covering M of coarsely woven wire or other suitable material.

Each of the side walls of the crate comprises a U-shaped marginal frame section composed of upper and lower horizontal bars n, nl, an upright rear bar n2 formed integrally with the rear ends of the horizontal bars n., nl, inwardly off set eyes or loops 0, 0 formed on the front ends of the horizontal bars and pivotally embracing the upper and lower parts of the side bars 791-, 731 of the front wall, and an upright front connecting bar p which is secured at its upper and lower ends to the off set portions of the upper and lower bars n, al adjacent to the eyes thereof. Each of the frames of the side walls is spanned by an open work covering N consisting preferably of coarsely woven wire, as shown in the drawing. The opposite ends of the rod or pintle J which pivotally connects the upper and lower sections of the rear wall, project laterally beyond the vertical edges of this wall so as to form coupling studs or pins Q which enter eyes or openings g formed on thecentral parts of the rear frame bars of the side walls. Outside of the rear bars of the side walls the studs Q are provided with transverse openings which receive spring pins 1' or other fastenings for retaining these studs in said eyes. By this means the side walls and the rear wall are held in their `operative position when the crate is unfolded and set up for use.

When the parts of the crate are set up for use, the side walls are arranged at their lower edge over the bottom and at their upper edges under the top of the crate, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby rendering the crate very stiff and rigid in a vertical direction and preventing the same from becoming crushed if a load of ordinary weight is imposed upon the same during transportation. By offsetting the horizontal bars n, nl of the side walls, as shown at 0, 0, it is possible to pivotally connect these bars with the upright bars 751 of the front wall and still keep the bars a, nl in line with the upper and lower bars 7c,A m of the front wall, thereby enabling the top and bottom to bear uniformly against the upper and lower edges of the front and side walls. The top of the crate may be held shut for shipment by any suitable means but preferably by the means which are shown in the drawings and which comprise a hasp s pivoted on the front bar of the top and adapted to pass with its opening over a staple or eye s1 secured to the outer side of the front wall, and a padlock 25 passing through said staple outside of the hasp.

When it is desired to fold the crate for shipment or render the same more compact for storage, the hasp of the cover is un- Across this frame is secured a lattice fastened and the spring pins 1" are removed from the studs so as to permit of detaching the rear ends of the side walls from the rear wall. The side walls are then swung inwardly over each other and against the inner side of the front wall and then these last-mentioned walls in this folded condi tion are swung inwardly and downwardly into a horizontal position over the adjacent part of the bottom of the crate, as shown in Fig. 5, this being possible owing to the inwardly projecting portions Z on the lower edge of the front wall which provides sufficient clearance between the inner side of the front wall and t-he bottom to accommodate the side walls between the same. The sections of the rear wall are then folded reversely upon each other and inwardly over the rear part of the bottom and the top is swung down close over the rear wall sections and the outer side of the front wall, as shown in Fig. 5. In this last mentioned condition, the crate is folded in its most compact form and occupies but a small amount of space compared with that which it occupies' when unfolded for use, thereby rendering the same particularly desirable for use in shipping goods in which it is desired to use the same crate repeatedly for the purpose of avoiding the cost of using new crates and also avoiding the expense attending the` shipment of empty crates which are not foldable.

My improved crate can be produced at comparatively low cost, the several parts are permanently connected so that they are not liable to become lost in shipment, and its construction is such that the same can be very readily and quickly set up fo-r use or knocked down when not in use.

I claim as my invention:

1. A folding crate comprising a bottom having a marginal wire frame, a rear wall composed of upper and lower sections which are pivotally connected with each other and the lower section being pivoted to the rear edge of the marginal frame of the bottom, a front wall provided with a marginal frame having an upper horizontal bar and two vertical side bars each connected at its upper end with one end of the horizontal bar while its lower end is pivoted to the front part of the marginal frame of said bottom, two side walls each provided with a marginal frame having an upright rear bar, horizontal bars arranged at the upper and lower edges of the side walls and connected at their rear ends with opposite ends of said rear bar of the side wall and inwardly oset eyes arranged at the front ends vof the horizontal bars and pivoted on the upright bars of said front wall frame, and a top pivoted at its rear edge to the upper edge of theupper having a marginal wire frame, a rear wall composed of upper and lower sections which are pivotally connected with each other and the lower section being pivoted to the rear edge of the marginal frame of the bottom, a front wall provided with a marginal frame having an upper horizontal bar and two vertical side bars each connected at its upper end with one end of the horizontal bar while its lower end is pivoted to the front part of the marginal frame of said bottom, two side walls each provided with a marginal frame having an upright rear bar, horizontal bars arranged at the upper and lower edges of the side walls and connected at their rear ends with opposite ends of the up` right rear bar of the side wall and inwardly offset eyes arranged at the front ends of the horizontal bars and pivoted on the upright bars of Said front wall frame, and a top pivoted at its rear edge to the upper edge of the upper section of the rear wall, the pivotal connection between the upper and lower sections of the rear wall having a horizontal pintle which projects at its opposite ends beyond the vertical edges of said wall and forms coupling studs, and the central parts of the upright rear frame bars of the side walls having eyes which receive said studs, and fastenings whereby said studs are secured in said eyes.

WVitness my hand this 28th day of September, 1909.

MAURICE A. GRIFFIN.

Vitnesses:

THEO. L. POPP, ANNA HEIGIS.

i Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

